The Resonance Audio Archive

Category Archives: Book list

Guest presenter Chiara Ambrosio talks to psycho-geographer and novelist Iain Sinclair and artist Dave McKean about their collaborations such as Slow Chocolate Autopsy and London Orbital, their inspirations and their working methods. The podcast also includes additional questions from Alex Fitch and others, plus readings by Sinclair and McKean of their short stories The Articulate Head and The Coast Road. Recorded at The Light and Shadow Salon, Horse Hospital, Bloomsbury in July 2014. (Partially broadcast as an episode of Panel Borders, 21/07/14 on Resonance FM)

In a show looking at new Doctor Who novels, short story anthologies and ebooks since the programme returned to television in 2005, Alex Fitch talks to novelist Alastair Reynolds about his book The Harvest of Time, and to writers / editors Jay Eales and Selina Lock about Faction Paradox, Iris Wildtyme, Senor 105 and other Gallifreyan themed titles published by Obverse and Manleigh Books in an interview recorded at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. (Partially broadcast as a Clear Spot, 05/06/15 on Resonance FM)

In an hour long show looking at titles aimed at different ages of young readers, Alex Fitch talks to three female authors about their work. Graphic designer Lotta Nieminen talks about her first picture book, Walk This World, which depicts various cities and locations around the world, in a highly stylised rectilinear fashion; YA author Sally Gardner discusses her Carnegie Medal winning dystopian novel Maggot Moon and new illustrated fantasy title Tinder; and debut novelist Fayette Fox explores the background of her coming of age novel The Deception Artist, whose young narrator may be in contact with a visitor from the future… Includes readings from Tinder and The Deception Artist performed by Robert Madge and Fayette Fox. Originally broadcast 23/01/14 as a Clear Spot on Resonance 104.4 FM (London)

Andrew Hickey talks to Lawrence Miles about his work, including Doctor Who novels Christmas on a Rational Planet and Alien Bodies, plus his Faction Paradox series. Andrew and Lawrence also discuss the latter’s unrealised plans for the nature of ‘The Enemy’ in the BBC Books Time War, the vaguaries of cover design and how his first book was nearly lost down the back of a cupboard!

In an hour long show looking at the long tradition of Doctor Who novelizations and original novels, Alex Fitch talks to five novelists who have written books and monologues based on all eras of the show: Jenny Colgan, Paul Cornell, Tommy Donbavand, Marc Platt, and script editor (1970-1974) Terrance Dicks. Recorded in front of a live audience at SCI-FI-LONDON, Spring 2013. (Originally broadcast 12/12/13 on Resonance FM)

Alex Fitch looks at the science-fiction sub genre of Alternate History, talking to three novelists about their works that imagines the past and near future if historical events had taken a different path. Charles Stross discusses his parallel worlds series “Merchant Princes” which depicts travel between various 21st Centuries where Europe is still feudal or has only just seen the industrial revolution plus his collaboration with Cory Doctorow “Rapture of the nerds”; Max Brooks talks about “World War Z” which depicts the present day Earth after twenty years of a war with zombies; and Ken MacLeod discusses his novella “The Human Front” and novel “Intrusion” which look at the kinds of police states that might exist in this county if various political movements had access to more advanced technology.

Starting a new series of the bimonthly show on books, Alex Fitch talks to three authors whose work celebrates ephemera and pop culture detritus. ‘Graphic Novelist’ Graham Rawle discusses his latest novel The Card, which follows the journey of a man who believes he is being employed by the secret service to protect Princess Diana, via playing cards, bubble-gum cards and cigarette cards that are left in his path. Rawle is an author and University of Brighton lecturer who uses graphic design and typography in his work, including collage of text from magazines (Woman’s World) and photographic montages (Lost Consonants et al.). Also, Tim Pilcher talks about his crowd-funded memoir Comic Book Babylon which documents his time working at DC Comics’ London office in the 90s, meeting pop culture celebrities such as Grant Morrison, Jonathan Ross, The Spice Girls and Adam Ant; while Paul Magrs chats about his novels and audio plays set around the fringes of Doctor Who, including his latest release Vince Cosmos, Glam Rock Detective where a Ziggy Stardust style pop star turns out to be engaged in an on-going war with aliens on Earth. Magrs also discusses his popular ‘Brenda and Effie’ series of books about the Bride of Frankenstein and a white witch running a B+B in Whitby. (Originally broadcast Wednesday 1st May 2013, on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Covers of The Card by Graham Rawle, Brenda and Effie Forever / Vince Cosmos by Paul Magrs and Comic Book Babylon by Tim Pilcher

Help fund COMIC BOOK BABYLON: A Cautionary Tale of Sex, Drugs and Comics on Kickstarter

Tim (Erotic Comics) Pilcher’s memoir about the years he spent working at DC Comics’ Vertigo office in the mid-Ninties. The book has reached its target of raising £3,850, but the printer has increased costs since the kickster campaign began – the new “Stretch Target” is now £5,500.

“…For a few glorious years only, before cost-cutting set in, there was Vertigo’s ‘British Office’ – the comics equivalent of the Loaded HQ in the ‘90s. Vodka, mushrooms, Es, sex, money, travel and the pure unleashed creativity of young people having a good time together.”—Grant Morrison, author of Supergods, All Star Superman, Batman Inc. and The Invisibles.

There are three versions of Comic Book Babylon available: eBook (with additional images), paperback, and 200 limited edition hardbacks, with covers created by design genius and comic book artist Rian Hughes. “Rian’s out done himself,” said an impressed Pilcher, “The punky/acid house colours perfectly reflect the rave mood of the times in the book.” Hughes has also designed a limited edition print and three “Sex, Drugs and Comic Books” badges as incentives.

Concluding our month of shows looking at the connections between comics and literature, Alex Fitch talks to a pair of authors who have used graphic novels and comics to update classic literature. Mike Carey discusses his comic The Unwritten which sees characters from classic literature – such as Frankenstein‘s monster – and authors – like Mark Twain – being caught up in a fantastical conspiracy through the ages; Alex and Mike also discuss how the latter’s parallel career as a novelist effects his comic book writing.
Also, newspaper cartoonist Martin Rowson discusses his graphic novel adaptation and updating of Gulliver’s Travels, with its art and content reflecting current political leaders and situations. (Originally broadcast 24/02/13 on Resonance 104.4 FM)

Interior art and cover of Gulliver’s Travels by Martin Rowson, cover of Vicious Circle and interior art from The Unwritten, written by Mike Carey

For more info and a variety of different formats you can stream or download, please visit the home of this podcast at www.archive.org

Continuing a month of shows looking at the connections between sequential art and literature, Alex Fitch talks to writers Matt Fraction and Michael Chabon about their friendship, reading experiences outside of graphic novels and mutual love of comics. Matt Fraction is an award winning writer who has become one of the most important contributors to Marvel’s range of superhero comics, with runs on Iron Fist, Thor and Iron Man under his belt, his new assignment is the continuing adventures of The Fantastic Four and their extended family. Fraction also has indie credentials from his ongoing European style spy series Casanova. Michael Chabon is the Pulitizer Prize winning author of “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay”, a chronicle of the comic book industry in the middle decades of the 20th Century, which he continued in the pages of the comic book series The Amazing Adventures of the Escapist, that saw the author write his first comic book script, plus the publication of Will Eisner’s final story to feature The Spirit.
(Originally broadcast in an edited form on Resonance 104.4 FM (London), 10/02/13

In advance of next week’s South Kensington Kids Festival which celebrates picture books and graphic novels for children, Alex Fitch talks to four creators whose work contains elements of each medium.

Andi Ewington discusses his novella “45” which divides the text and illustrations of superhero comics onto separate pages and the spin-off comic Blue Spear, co-written by Com.x publisher Eddie Deighton; while, in an interview recorded at the London Film and Comic Con, novelist Robert Rankin talks about his first graphic novel Empires which moves his celebrated monochrome cover illustrations onto every page of a new steam-punk sequel to The War of the Worlds.

Also, children’s illustrators Oliver Jeffers and Axel Scheffler talk about their recent picture books This Moose belongs to me and Superworm. Jeffers looks back at his parallel career as a fine artist, on display in the collection Neither here nor there, and Scheffler discusses partnership with writer Julia Donaldson on memorable books such as The Gruffalo and The Highway Rat.

Covers of Neither here not there by Oliver Jeffers, The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, Empires by Robert Rankin, 45 and Blue Spear by Andi Ewington

The South Kensington Kids Festival runs from 21st to 25th November and features screenings of French animated films The Gruffalo’s Child, and Ernest and Celestine, plus talks and drawing jams by Quentin Blake, Emile Bravo, Joann Sfar, Axel Scheffler and many more.